Tom Petty Rallies After his Saturday Night Show Gets Shut Down

Tom Petty is nothing if not a man of the people.

Tom Petty is nothing if not a man of the people. After Saturday night’s disastrous set, which the fire marshal shut down after 30 minutes due to overcrowding, Petty came roaring back on Sunday night. “I don’t like to point fingers or blame, but it wasn’t me,” he said with a sly grin. “I can guarantee we finish our set tonight.” Then the veteran songwriter launched into a shimmering rendition of the Byrds’ “So You Want to be a Rock and Roll Star.”

The veteran songwriter, who cemented his no-nonsense reputation when he filed for bankruptcy in the late ’70s to gain control of his material, went on to pledge, “If it has to come out of my own pocket, everyone will get reimbursed.” The extra precautions Sunday night were evident, and the 1,300-person venue was more packed than the Monday night show that opened the residency, but it did nothing to dampen the spirit of the evening. By the time the Heartbreakers played “Listen to Her Heart,” all had been forgiven.

From there it was full steam ahead for the penultimate show of Petty’s six-night run at the Fonda Theatre, which concludes tonight. Keeping only his opening and closing tracks the same throughout the residency, Petty played a revolving set of career-spanning tracks. From deep cuts and covers to the big hits, he had a song for every generation. Hip-shaking rockers like “Running Down a Dream” and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” were paired with tender fare like “Wildflowers” and a gorgeous reworking of “Rebels.” Covers of Muddy Waters’ “I Just Want to Make Love to You” and the Traveling Wilburys’ “Tweeter and the Monkey Man” filled out the set list. It was the group’s version of Bob Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door,” though, that brought out the cell phones and cigarette lighters. The loudest track of the night, Mojo’s gritty “I Should Have Known It” found the flaxen rocker parading around the stage and gleefully tossing aside his maracas in favor of a tambourine. Petty worked the small stage with the passion of a man who has something to prove. If it means another six-night blowout at the Fonda Theatre fans just might let him believe that he does.

Set list:So You Want to Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll StarLove is a Long RoadListen to Her HeartHoney Bee13 DaysGood EnoughI Just Want to Make Love to YouA Woman in Love (It’s Not Me)House in the WoodsTweeter and the Monkey ManRebelsWildflowersWallsKnockin’ on Heaven’s DoorIt’s Good to Be KingI Should Have Known ItRefugeeRunnin’ Down a Dream